Coaches, seniors will say aloha Saturday

By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer

The four seniors completing their eligibility as University of Hawai'i baseball players this weekend have at least one thing in common: None started his collegiate career here.

Seniors, from left, Wakon Childers, Matt Purtell, Patrick Scalabrini and Danny Kimura brought leadership and versatility to the University of Hawai'i lineup. They will play their final game in a UH uniform on Saturday night. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

The Rainbows close their season with a three-game Western Athletic Conference series against interisland rival UH-Hilo. It will be a farewell weekend, not only for the four seniors, but for UH-Hilo, which was not retained by the WAC for next season, and for retiring UH coach Les Murakami.

As for the seniors, it didn't matter what path they took to get here. UH acting coach Carl Furutani is happy they just did. All were described as leaders in how they practiced and played.

Kimura, a two-time all-state selection and 1996 Player of the Year at Iolani School, played his first two seasons at Nebraska, where he earned honorable mention Freshman All-America honors. Kimura said he appreciated Murakami giving him the opportunity to make the team, allowing him to fulfill a childhood dream.

"My greatest thrill was playing at Rainbow Stadium in front of the home crowd," Kimura said. "It was always my dream to play for the Rainbows. I got the experience and it was fun."

Kimura played third and first base for the Rainbows. He hit .297 and led the team with 11 doubles, three triple and 43 RBIs last year. This season, he struggled at the plate at the outset, but has since come on strong. Entering this series, he is hitting .290 and is third with 30 RBIs.

"His presence pretty much said it all," Furutani said. "He's a guy who could get vocal at the right times. He's also a coach's dream because what ever you tell him, he gets it done."

Kimura said he has another year before he graduates with a degree in sociology. He said he wants to be a police officer or firefighter.

Scalabrini didn't let culture shock affect his play. The Seminole (Okla.) State JC transfer from Quebec was an ironman on the field, playing through injuries. He has played in all 53 games the past two seasons, starting in 51.

"He brought a different mentality to the ball park," Furutani said. "He had a so-called hockey mentality."

Scalabrini was expected to bring power to the Rainbows last year, but hit only one home run. This season, he is second on the team with seven home runs and second in RBIs with 36.

"This was just a culture shock for me, being from Canada and a French world," Scalabrini said of his experience at UH. "It's the opposite side of the world. The weather's great all year long."

The history major plans to graduate in 2002, and hopes to teach and coach if a pro baseball career does not materialize.

Purtell came by way of Santa Rosa JC in Northern California. His versatility kept him in the lineup for 51 of 53 games. Because of Western Athletic Conference rules, he had to sit out a game for a minor scuffle with a Nevada player earlier in the season. Now the shortstop, Purtell also has played second base and center field. He prefers the infield.

"I really didn't like to run from the dugout to center field between every inning," joked Purtell. "Pat's (Scalabrini) got it easy. All he has to do is run 10 steps and he's at third base already."

Purtell's versatility wasn't lost on Furutani.

"He showed us his value to this team, not only by playing different positions, but through his leadership," Furutani said. "He is what we call the ultimate dirt bag guy. He'd go out and give it all he's got. He's a guy you'll love to have."

Purtell plans to finish his degree in anthropology this summer at Sonoma State. He said he will then work on obtaining his teaching certificate with hopes of finding employment in his hometown of Sonoma, Calif.

Childers' career was shortened by an elbow injury that forced him to sit out the entire 2000 season. His comeback was a slow process, but when he took the mound this season, he didn't hold back.

"Every time I got on the mound, I didn't get to do a whole lot," Childers said. "But every time I went out there, it was one of the best times of my life."

The Oklahoma native came to Hawai'i by way of Seminole State JC. He graduated with a degree in sociology last weekend.

"Wakon was one who really pushed our guys and challenged our guys," Furutani said. "He just led us, was an inspiration to a lot of us. For me, knowing what he went through, the biggest goal for me was for him to graduate, which he did. And we're proud of him for that."

• Warm-up tosses: About 1,400 tickets remain for Saturday night's game, which is being promoted as Les Murakami Night. Murakami is expected to make his first public appearance at the stadium since his Nov. 2 stroke. . . . The last sellout was March 29, 1998 during the championship game of the Easter Tournament against Nebraska. Although 4,395 tickets were issued, 2,996 entered the turnstiles. . . . The last individual game sellout was March 18, 1995 against San Diego State when 4,369 tickets were issued and 2,847 passed through the turnstiles.